Abstract

Rationale
John Henryism and Superwoman Schema (SWS) are dispositional characteristics adopted to overcome the challenges of chronic psychosocial stress, and have particular salience for African American women. Both show protective and harmful effects on health and share conceptual similarities and distinctions, yet there is no empirical evidence of the potential overlap resulting in uncertainty about the unique roles they may each play in relation to the health of African American women.

Objective
We examined:
1) Whether and to what extent John Henryism and SWS represent similar or distinct constructs relevant to the unique sociohistorical and sociopolitical position of African American women
2) Whether the two differentially predict health outcomes

Method
Data are from a purposive and socioeconomically diverse sample of 208 African American women in the San Francisco Bay Area. First, we conducted a progressive series of tests to systematically examine the conceptual and empirical overlap between John Henryism and SWS: correlation analysis, exploratory factory analysis (EFA), principal component analysis and k-modes cluster analysis. Next, we used multivariable regression to examine associations with psychological distress and hypertension.

Results
John Henryism and SWS were moderately correlated with one another (r’s=0.30-0.48). In both EFA and cluster analyses, John Henryism items were distinct from SWS subscale items. For SWS, feeling an obligation to present an image of strength and an obligation to help others predicted higher odds of hypertension (p<.05); having an intense motivation to succeed predicted lower odds (p=0.04). John Henryism did not predict hypertension. Feeling an obligation to help others and an obligation to suppress emotions predicted lower levels of psychological distress (p<.05) whereas John Henryism predicted higher distress (p=0.002).

Conclusions
We discuss the implications of these findings for the measurement of culturally specific phenomena and their role in contributing to the unequal burden of ill health among African American women.

Keywords: Superwoman Schema; John Henryism; Racism; African American; Stress; Coping

Current Study

1. Examine whether and to what extent SWS and John Henryism represent similar or distinct constructs
   
2. Examine whether SWS and John Henryism differentially predict health outcomes

Study Sample & Characteristics

Purposive community sample of 207 African American women ages 30-50, San Francisco Bay area

Results: How distinguishable are SWS & John Henryism?

Results: Do SWS & John Henryism differentially predict health outcomes?

Conclusion

• SWS is not the female John Henryism

• Both are pertinent to the stress experience/response system but they are two distinct coping dispositions for racism related stress 

Contact

Dr. Amanda D. Perez: ADP@Berkeley.edu

Acknowledgments

UC Berkeley Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, UC Berkeley Population Center, UC Berkeley Research Bridging Grant.

References

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